April 23, 2008

Contact: Amy Hewes
College of Engineering
805-756-6402
ahewes@calpoly.edu

Cal Poly Engineering Alumni Create Electric Vehicles on the Central Coast

As the demand for green vehicles of all shapes and sizes continues to grow, two Cal Poly engineering alumni have responded with their own electric vehicle companies on the Central Coast.

Neal Saiki, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering from Cal Poly in 1990 and 1993, has invented a lightweight and powerful electric off-road motorcycle known as Zero X.

Jules Rogoff, a 1974 engineering technology graduate, founded Revolution Electric Cars, a company which outfits mini cars imported from China with electric motors. 

Saiki, an off-road motorcycle enthusiast, has spent his career working with innovative and lightweight materials. After designing aircraft for NASA and developing lightweight mountain bike frames, he put his skills to work solving a problem much closer to home. Off-road motorcycles have become increasingly unpopular on the Central Coast.

“It’s because of the noise,” said Saiki. “Every county in California has a noise ordinance covering off-road motorcycles. So really people have no choice but to go to silent motorcycles.” 

Saiki’s electric motor is not only much quieter than a traditional two or four stroke combustion engine, it produces zero emissions. Because the bike is so light, weighing only 140 pounds, Zero X offers performance similar to traditional off-road motorcycles with less power. It can jump, fly through the air and accelerate from zero to 30 miles per hour in less than two seconds. 

Rogoff’s company fills a unique niche for Central Coast drivers. Revolution Electric Cars specializes in producing neighborhood electric vehicles, which are used only for driving short distances on business and residential streets.

Rogoff imports mini cars from China, removes their combustion engines and installs electric motors instead. The vehicles can travel at 25 miles per hour for around 50 miles between charges. Rogoff also hopes to establish a ride share program in San Luis Obispo. The program would make these electric vehicles available for running errands around town.